May 1928
"Kit! To me!"
The sound of a ball being thrown through the air reached Mary's ears as she watched her children play from the doorway to the Abbey. Catherine, now aged almost three, was throwing a chewed-up ball that Teo favoured to George. Charlie and Sybbie were chasing each other through the shade of the trees whilst Nanny sat with Marigold and Peter underneath a tall oak. She watched them fondly, enjoying that some aspects of life were normal despite the hustle and bustle of the film crew interrupting the daily peace of their home for 'The Gambler'.
She heard footsteps behind her which caused her to turn and smile at the director, Mr. Barber.
"We are nearly set up for the latest scenes if you would like to observe." The director said with a smile.
"I'll be along in a moment." Mary replied.
Mr. Barber's eyes were caught upon the playing children, and he smiled fondly as he watched them play.
"I imagine they bring you a joy." He commented.
Mary turned her direction back to her children and her nieces and nephew. The family were growing, more and more with each year that passed. Now that Tom was married to Lucy, she imagined that they would go on to give Sybbie a brother or sister one day. Edith, despite only having Peter in March of this year, was determined to have another child in the near future. Mary had tried to advise her sister of how tiring it was to have children so close in age to one another, but Edith was determined all the same.
"They are," Mary agreed, "It's lovely to have them all under one house for a short time. My brother-in-law is recently married so he, his wife and Sybbie will be returning to Brampton House, along with my sister and her family to Brancaster."
"I apologise if the film is causing any disruption to the children."
"No apology necessary. The children are enjoying the change of daily life here."
Mr. Barber smiled and made his exit, just as Matthew's car pulled up in front of the Abbey. Mary smiled to greet her husband and kissed his cheek once he reached her.
"Good afternoon, darling. Is everything going smoothly?" Matthew asked.
"As smooth as can be. Now that we are converting the film into a talking picture, Molesley is writing the scripts and instructing on additional scenes." Mary replied.
"Splendid. Mother and Dickie are dining with us tonight." Matthew informed her.
"I'll inform Mrs Hughes."
The two walked inside the house, watching their feet as they stepped over equipment that the film crew were setting up. She followed her husband into the study and closed the door behind them. Matthew took off his hat and unbuttoned his jacket before sitting at the desk.
"Has there been any word from those abroad?" Matthew asked.
"Mama sent a telegram, there are still a lot of questions regarding why Granny was left the villa. Tom writes that it's a beautiful place and is very grateful to Granny for thinking of Sybbie's future." Mary replied.
"Violet wants to ensure that her youngest granddaughter's child is provided for. Not that we would ever allow Sybbie to not be included." Matthew mused.
"Of course we wouldn't but I'm not sure if Tom would be comfortable with that." Mary stated.
"He is Sybbie's father, he has every right to refuse our well wishes for our niece should he choose to."
When Violet had announced to the family of her intentions, half the family had decided to travel to the French Riviera to learn more about her mysterious past. It just so happened to coincide with Mary allowing Mr. Barber to direct his film at Downton and her father had been a little more eager to spend months in the south of France than to remain at home with disruption and chaos. Of course, in recent years, Robert had learned to let Mary and Matthew 'run the ship' and the film would bring the big funds needed to fix the roof.
"Would you have liked to go? If the business with the Frenchman's will hadn't conflicted with the film?" Mary asked curiously.
Matthew looked at her and smiled.
"I would have enjoyed the trip; we haven't been to the Riviera since our honeymoon. It would have provided an opportunity to revisit some fond memories." He said in an amused tone.
"Would you like to go?"
"I would. Perhaps Tom and Lucy would allow us to stay at the villa if we do go."
"We can ask." Mary smiled.
In recent years, they had fallen into a nice way of working together to secure Downton's future for their children and, they hoped, their eventual grandchildren. They regularly opened the house each summer for a day to raise money to fund the hospital and the house and they had worked with builders and architects to build housing on plots of land that were unused, having made a large sum in the process. They had been able to host events at the house with the villagers invited for small fee and invest in more modern equipment for the farms on their land. Tom had developed a successful and thriving car business on the edge of the estate which he managed with Matthew. It had been three years of thriving for the family when only eight years ago their family had been on the brink of financial ruin.
There was a knock on the study door, interrupting the couple from their musing over the south of France.
"Come in." Matthew called.
The door opened and Mrs Hughes stood in the doorway.
"I apologise for interrupting Mr. Crawley, but Mr. Barber has asked for Lady Mary." The housekeeper said politely.
"Of course. I'll see you in a little while, darling." Matthew replied.
Mary exited the study with the housekeeper, leaving her husband to look through letters and paperwork. She returned to the library where the scene was set and the actors at the ready. Molesley was handing over the latest scripts to Mr. Dexter before handing one to her to read from. Since Miss Dagleish couldn't master the accent the film required for her character, Mr. Barber had asked Mary to step into the role.
Mr. Barber called action and the scene began. Mary began to read from the script in time with Mr. Dexter and before she knew it, the scene had ended. There were rounds of applause and the film crew began setting up for the next scene. Mr. Barber walked up to her with an easy smile on his face.
"How can I ever thank you for stepping in to save my film?" Mr. Barber gushed.
"There's no need. I'm rather enjoying it, Mr. Barber." Mary replied softly.
"Please…call me Jack."
Mary looked at him curiously. The man had been filming in her family home for weeks and she wouldn't say that she knew him on friendly terms. She had accepted his offer to see a film together and it had been that visit which had altered the silent film that Mr. Barber was currently adapting.
"I'm….I'm not sure that would be appropriate." Mary said quietly.
"May I ask why?" Mr. Barber asked curiously.
"I'm married and we barely know each other to be on first name terms." Mary replied quickly.
Mr. Barber nodded apologetically.
"I had hoped…that we may…develop a friendship. I had believed that we shared common interests and our conversations aren't forced." He stated.
"Friendship would be lovely, Mr. Barber, but let's not force things."
Mr. Barber nodded his agreement and turned his attention back to the next scene which was now ready to add dialogue to. Mary took her position and waited for her cue.
oOo
After dinner that evening, Mary dismissed Anna for the night and prepared herself for bed. She had just finished pulling on her nightgown when Matthew entered the bedroom.
"The children are asleep; the nursery has never looked smaller." Matthew chuckled.
"We should enjoy it while it lasts. Mama and Papa will be returning in a few weeks and the children will depart with Edith back to Brancaster and Tom back to Brampton." Mary sighed.
Matthew climbed into bed, holding out his arms to her and she climbed in next to him willingly. She settled in his arms, listening to his heart beating like a song she had known her whole life.
"Are you enjoying your time on the film?" Matthew questioned quietly.
"I am. Mr. Barber is pleasant company." Mary answered.
"I'm pleased, he seems like a nice fellow."
"He is. He reminds me of you in some ways."
She felt his head shift to look down at her and she looked up at him with a smile.
"How so?" Matthew asked curiously.
"You're both dreamers. Mr. Barber has big aspirations for his future as a director whereas you have big aspirations for our future." Mary replied softly.
Matthew kissed the top of her forehead.
"I couldn't have done it without you."
"You could, you're incredibly clever."
"Do you really think Robert would have allowed so many changes in the management of Downton without your support?" Matthew asked in a whisper.
Mary shook her head. She knew her father would likely not have been so accepting of all the changes they had made over the years if she hadn't been Matthew's wife, supporting her husband as co-owner of the estate.
"The film opens up many opportunities for us. We may be able to do it again in the future should the opportunity arise." She stated.
"Perhaps it will, we never know. Going off the subject, I was thinking that we could spend some time with the children tomorrow?" Matthew suggested.
"All the children? You do realise that there are six of them." Mary laughed.
"I'm aware. I thought it would be nice."
"It would. But wouldn't it be too much for us to handle?"
She felt Matthew shake his head.
"No, call it good practice." He whispered.
Mary rolled her eyes. They were back at the discussion of when they would have another baby. The truth was, she was conflicted as to whether she should conceive again. Her children were a lot older now, George was nearly seven, Charlie nearly six and Catherine nearly three. She was content watching her three children grow but Matthew had always said he wanted to have a large family. Long ago he had told her that he had envisioned them having four children together and she had always been a little hesitant about it. She loved her independence and loved the part that she played managing the estate. She loved the time she did have with the children she already had, and she loved building a foundation for her future with Matthew.
"You're not going to let this go, are you?" Mary sighed.
"You know I'm only teasing, darling. If you don't want another baby, I'm fine with that." Matthew assured her.
She met his loving gaze, his blue eyes so warm.
"I'm a lot older now, Matthew-"
"You're thirty-seven, hardly an old maid."
She rolled her eyes again.
"May I think on it some more? If I have another baby it would have to be soon, but I still need to think whether it's the right choice for me." Mary requested.
"Of course, you don't need to ask my permission, darling. You're the one who would be carrying the load after all." Matthew said softly.
She looked up at him once more, leaning herself up as best she could and pressed her lips to his. Matthew cupped her face with his hands as Mary rolled over him, supporting her weight with her hands as they dug into the mattress, kissing her husband enthusiastically. Matthew groaned against her lips, as she pulled away with a grin on her face.
"You don't play fair, Mary Crawley."
"Why don't I?"
Matthew looked at her with dark, desirous eyes.
"You talk about wanting time to think about conceiving, yet you kiss me like that knowing that I would enjoy the act tremendously." He whispered.
"I think it's a little more than that." Mary teased.
Matthew raised an eyebrow at her which caused her to grin.
"Do explain." He said amusingly.
"I think that you enjoy the act, but you'd enjoy it a lot more if I did conceive your child again. As I carry your child, it says to the world that I'm yours." Mary teased.
"Am I really that arrogant?" Matthew asked.
Mary shook her head.
"No. I think that it's an unspoken desire."
Matthew smiled at her and she met his lips once more before they both settled down for the night.
oOo
The following day, Matthew walked across the grounds with Mary and the children. Sybbie had run ahead with George and Charlie whilst Marigold and Catherine skipped together whilst holding hands. The film crew were setting up for the day's filming whilst Molesley was finishing writing the dialogue to match the footage that Mr. Barber had already filmed. Watching his wife participate in the film, giving Miss Dagleish's character the required voice, was something that Mary seemed to be enjoying. The servants seemed to be filled with glee at the change in daily life at the Abbey, Daisy in particular seemed to be enjoying the moments where she got to tend to Miss Dagleish. Barrow seemed to be building a rapport with Mr. Dexter and seeing the servants happy with the experiences of the film made Matthew ponder if offering Downton as a filming location for directors was an opportunity he should explore.
The group made their way to the stream that ran under a tiny stone bridge, shaded by tall trees. The warm weather called for a little dip in the stream. The children hurriedly took off their socks and shoes and climbed down the banks and sighed happily in the cool water. Matthew smiled as George splashed Charlie and then looked down at his daughter who stood by his side. He ruffled her dark locks and she looked up at him through chocolate brown eyes.
"Would you like to go in Kit?" Matthew asked softly.
"Please Papa?" Catherine questioned.
"I'll go in with you." Matthew offered.
"I want Mama with me!" Catherine stated.
Matthew looked at his wife who looked a little uneasy about going in the stream with the children.
"Go on, Mary." He encouraged quietly.
"Ladies don't dip in streams, Matthew." Mary stated.
"Ladies also don't get into a pigpen and get covered in mud." Matthew teased, reliving a memory from years ago.
Rolling her eyes, Mary tucked her loose, short hair behind her ear and carefully took off her shoes and stockings before she took Catherine's little hand in hers. He watched until his wife and daughter joined the other children in the stream, smiling as Mary inhaled sharply at the coldness now hitting her ankles. He watched as Catherine leaned forward, her free hand running gently through the water before she looked at George and Charlie and the next thing he knew, a large splash sounded, and water sprayed everywhere. George and Charlie shrieked in shock as Catherine's splash hit the other children hard and unexpectedly.
Matthew took off his socks and shoes and then rolled up his trousers before he joined them in the water.
"Kit! That's not fair!" George grumbled.
"Yes! You did it too hard!" Charlie shouted.
"She's just joining in!" Sybbie argued.
The children started arguing amongst themselves, all of them trying to dictate the rules of splashing in the stream. Catherine burst into tears, wailing loudly as Matthew reached Mary's side and lifted Catherine into his arms. George and Charlie kept shouting at Sybbie and Marigold, with the girls telling the boys to play nice and let Catherine join in whilst the boys argued that Catherine needed to be gentle.
"Okay children, settle down!" Mary commanded, her tone of voice rising ever so slightly.
The children ceased their shouting after a few moments and all looked at Mary, their eyes darting ot the ground.
"If you're going to argue, we'll get out of the stream and walk back to the house!" Mary stated firmly.
"But Mama-"
"No Charlie! Your sister didn't mean any harm, she wanted to join in. You and George need to apologise to Catherine."
Charlie and George looked to each other before meeting their sister's puffy gaze.
"Sorry!" they chorused sulkily.
"Now then. No more splashing each other." Mary commanded.
George rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath. Mary raised an eyebrow and walked over to her son; her skirt hitched up slightly in her hands.
"George, do you have something to say?" Mary asked.
"No Mama." George replied quickly.
"Good. Now let's enjoy the water."
Matthew smiled as the children began walking through the water and Mary followed them up the stream. He placed Catherine down into the water and held her hand as they followed the group. The other four children were still sulking and grumpy until Mary announced that they all had to find a rock and whoever found the biggest and shiniest rock was the winner.
"What's the prize?" George asked grumpily.
"The winner gets to choose what story Donk reads to you when he returns from France." Mary replied.
The children seemed a little more encouraged now that the winner got to choose what story Robert would read to them on his return. Matthew chuckled at the thought that Mary had nominated her father to read the story without consulting him first. He knew that Robert would pretend to be disgruntled about the proposition but that secretly, his father-in-law would be thrilled to read a story to all his grandchildren at once. It hadn't occurred since Peter's birth, and he imagined that Robert would enjoy doing it.
He searched through the water with Catherine, trying to find her the biggest and shiniest rock that he could see. His daughter searched too, scooping rocks to the side as her little hands ran through the cool water. Matthew could hear George's triumphant cheer as he held a rock high up in the air, as high as his arm could reach. Charlie followed second and then Marigold and then Sybbie.
"I can't find one, Papa." Catherine said sadly.
Matthew patted her on the back encouragingly and then he pointed to a large black rock, the size of Teo's ball and lifted it out of the water and gave it to Catherine. He chuckled as Catherine held the rock in both hands, it being too large for her to hold in just one.
"I FOUND ONE!" Catherine cheered happily.
Mary looked over at them and smiled widely.
"It looks like Catherine is the winner!" his wife announced.
"That's not fair!" George and Charlie whined in unison.
"Catherine gets to choose the story for Donk to read." Mary stated firmly.
Deciding that their little outing was over for the day, the adults and children climbed out of the stream and pulled on their socks and shoes. They began to walk back to the house, with the children walking slightly ahead as Mary wrapped her arm around Matthew's whilst he held on to Catherine's hand with his left.
"I think we handled that okay." Mary commented quietly.
"You certainly made sure the boys knew their place." Matthew said.
"They've been a handful today; they aren't usually this grumpy."
"But you handled them well. You were firm with them when you needed to be, Mary. You're an amazing mother."
Mary met his gaze.
"If we have another baby, I want it to be soon. I don't want to be turning forty and falling pregnant." She stated.
"Is that a yes to trying to conceive?" Matthew queried quietly.
Mary nodded.
"The children love each other and most of the time they are the best of friends. But during times like today, George and Charlie are sided together which leaves Catherine on her own."
"If we have another child there is no guarantee that Catherine will get a sister."
"I know that. But having a child closer to her age might help her. I know she has Marigold and Sybbie but they are so much older than her and they don't live at Downton any more. I worry that she'll be lonely." Mary sighed.
Matthew nodded and they continued their walk back to the house where they were greeted at the front door by Barrow.
"Mrs Patmore has fresh biscuits below stairs for the children, My Lady." Barrow informed them.
"Go ahead children." Matthew instructed.
They children bade Matthew and Mary goodbye and headed below stairs with Anna to the kitchen.
"Was there something else, Barrow?" Mary asked.
"Yes, My Lady, Mr. Barber is ready for you in the library."
Mary kissed Matthew's cheek and headed off to the library to read over the new scripts that Molesley had written. Matthew headed upstairs to check in on Violet, who spent most of her day in her room, having moved out of the Dower House last year due to her frailty. When he reached her room, he knocked on the door and waited for her voice to invite him in. He pushed the door open as he heard Violet's invitation and found her sat in a chair, reading a book.
"Matthew, what a surprise." Violet greeted.
He smiled at her and when she gestured for him to take the empty chair next to hers, he did so.
"How are you feeling, Cousin Violet?" Matthew asked.
"I'm fine dear. As fine as one can be given my condition. I'm having a little fun with Denker before I go." Violet said amusingly.
"Oh?" Matthew queried quietly.
"I've sent her on an errand to find another book I want to read. I told her it was in the library, but I had Barrow place it in the fourth earl's wing."
Matthew laughed.
"I imagine Denker will not be amused once she finds out." He stated with a smile.
"When one reaches my age, Matthew, one will do anything for an hour of peace." Violet smiled.
They sat in silence, listening to the sounds coming from downstairs as the film crew went about their business, until Matthew met Violet's gaze, a look he had never seen in her eyes before.
"Matthew…if I don't get a chance…I wanted to tell you…" Violet coughed, clearing her throat, "I'm glad it all worked out the way it did."
Matthew frowned.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Violet looked at him impatiently.
"You and Mary. It was always obvious how the two of you loved one another. All you both needed was a little push." She replied.
"Or rather a bit of interference on your part." Matthew pointed out fondly.
"Well, you were blind to Mary's feelings although I could tell that yours resurfaced the time the two of you spent together during your recovery. Miss Swire was an amiable girl, but it was with Mary that your happiness truly lay with." Violet sighed.
"It took me a long time to grieve for Lavinia, I felt that I had betrayed her. The night she came down with Spanish Flu, Mary and I shared a dance where I confessed my feelings, and we shared a kiss. Lavinia caught us and she was willing to release me from our engagement and then she-"
"She died. You moved on. You cannot live with the ghosts of your past. Mary is happy and the two of you are building a great future for Downton, no matter how stubborn the two of you are." Violet said fondly.
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me dear. I like to instil common sense now and again."
They sat in silence for a few moments more, both sharing a smile as they heard a frantic Denker rushing hurriedly down the hall, asking whomever she came across if they knew where a certain book was that the Dowager Countess of Grantham had requested.